People spend an average of 37 years of their lives at work.

Omissions

• The precise figure is 37.2 years (not exactly 37). The data refers to 'expected duration of working life' for 15-year-olds, which is a statistical projection based on current employment patterns, not necessarily the actual years worked by individuals.
• The Eurostat data shows significant gender differences: 39.2 years for men and 35.0 years for women on average in the EU.
• There is considerable variation between EU Member States, ranging from approximately 33 years in Italy to over 42 years in the Netherlands.

Sources

• PrimaryEurostat (European Commission)In 2024, the expected average duration of working life for 15-year-olds and over in the EU was 37.2 years (39.2 years for men and 35.0 years for women)
• PrimaryEurostat Statistics Explained (PDF)The expected duration of working life was on average 37.2 years in the EU in 2024, 39.2 years for men and 35.0 years for women